Private Tour

Datong Yungang Grottoes and Hanging Monastery 1-day from Beijing by Train

Overview

Available languages

English

12 hours

Mobile ticket

1) Taking advantage of the newly built Beijing-Datong bullet train, your day trip to Datong becomes possible. It only takes 2 hours each way. It is something perfect to do if you have an extra day in Beijing.

2) Our guide in Datong is one of the best tour guides, fluent in English, and knowledgeable about Shanxi history and culture. Very experienced in time management also to make sure you enjoy the most.

3) Have a taste of Shanxi-style food at lunch, not found in Beijing.

4) Private tour, so you will have a dedicated team to work for you.

Additional Info

Public transportation options are available nearby

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What To Expect

Yungang Grottoes

The Yungang Grottoes are excellent examples of rock-cut architecture. It is one of the three most famous ancient sculptural sites of China. They were built in the period between 460-525 AD during the Northern Wei Dynasty. The grottoes are an outstanding example of Chinese stone carvings from the 5th and 6th centuries. Altogether, the site is composed of 252 grottoes with more than 51,000 Buddha statues and statuettes. In 2001, the Grottoes named a UNESCO World Heritage Site as a "masterpiece of early Chinese Buddhist cave art... [and] ...represent the successful fusion of Buddhist religious symbolic art from south and central Asia with Chinese cultural traditions, starting in the 5th century CE under Imperial auspices."

2 hours • Admission Included

Hengshan Hanging Temple (Xuankong si)

The Hanging Temple (Xuankong Temple) is a 1,500-year-old cliffside temple near Datong and one of the region’s most famous historical sites, alongside the Yungang Grottoes. Built into a sheer precipice, it is unique for combining Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism in one complex. The temple is supported by hidden wooden beams embedded in the rock and is naturally protected from weather by the surrounding cliff. Peak Season Note (March–October): Visitor numbers are high, and advance reservations (at least one week) are required and highly competitive. If on-site waiting time exceeds 1.5 hours, we recommend viewing the temple from below rather than entering.

1 hour • Admission Included

What‘s Included

English-speaking tour guide extremely knowledgeable about the history.

All Fees and Taxes

Air-conditioned vehicle

Professional driver in Datong along with a nice car.

Beijing and Datong train station transfers (from hotel to station and back)

Bullet train tickets between Beijing and Datong (round-trip)

Chinese Shanxi-style dishes and noodles.

Pickup points

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Datong Yungang Grottoes and Hanging Monastery 1-day from Beijing by Train

Pickup included

Reviews

5.00

4 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

Amazing experience
Y3973CEdianac,,Sep 5, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
I had a great experience with this tour. Phoebe took great care of me. Had a lucky day with not so many crowds so we got to see more things than planned. Now I really wished I stayed there an extra day to have even more time to explore things. The hanging temple is beautiful but the Grottoes really were mind blowing. So much history there and just crazy skill of the artists that made them. That’s definitely something to see at least once. Thank you Phoebe for a great day. Hope to see you in my next visit to Datong! :)
China’s Glorious Past and Present Point to a Glioious Future
John M,,Jul 23, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
This was a fabulous way of experiencing the present and past of China. The excellent train system and stations, and the new facilities built to welcome visitors to both the Hanging Monastery and the Yungang Grottoes represent modern China, while the Buddhist shrines of the Hanging Monastery and the Yungang Grottoes, and the harmonic relations shown among the Buddhist, Taoist, and Confucian traditions in the Hanging Monastery, represent China’s glorious past.
A must do!
Janice J,,Apr 7, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00
A must see if you enjoy culture, history, and unique experiences. The train ride was smooth and quiet. Star was an extremely professional and knowledgeable guide. I am so glad that I hadn't tried to do this trip on my own. His knowledge of local history kept me in thralled the entire trip.
Excellent trip
Jordan L,,Mar 13, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00
Very good tour and guide. The Yungang Grottoes and Hanging Monastery are both fantastic, and well worth the excursion from Beijing (even with the early start).